#FactCheck: Old Salman Khan Video From 2019 Misleadingly Shared as Eid Post

Introduction

Personalised advertisements deploy a mechanism that derives from the collection of the user’s data. Although it allows for a more tailored user experience, one cannot ignore the method through which this is achieved. Recently, as per a report by the Indian Express on 13th November 2024, Meta has come up with a less personalised ad option on Facebook and Instagram for its users in the European Union (EU). This was done due to the incompatibility of their previous ad offer with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). 

Relevant Legislation

In October 2023, Meta came up with a “Pay or Consent” option for their users in the EU. It gave the users two options: either to pay a monthly subscription fee to avail of the ad-free usage variant of Facebook and Instagram, or to give consent to see personalised ads based on the user’s data. This consent model was introduced in their attempts to comply with the EU’s DMA. However, this was found to be incompatible with the said mandate, according to the EU regulators, as they believed that the users should not only have the option to consent to ads but also have access to less personalised but equivalent alternatives. It is this decision that pushed Meta to come up with less personalised ad options for users in the EU. The less-personalised ad option claims to rely on limited data and show ads that are only based on the context of what is being viewed i.e. during a Facebook or Instagram session requiring a minimum set of data points such as location, age, gender, and the user’s engagement with the ads. However, choosing this option also allows for such ads to be less skippable. 

The EU’s Digital Markets Act came into force on November 1, 2022. The purpose was to make the digital marketing sector fairer and in doing so, identify what they consider to be “Gatekeepers” (core platform services such as messenger services, search engines, and app stores) and a list of do’s and don’ts for them. One of them, applicable to the case mentioned above, is the effective consent required by the user in case the gatekeeper decides to target advertisements enabled by tracking the users' activity outside the gatekeeper's core platform services. 

The Indian Context

Although no such issues have been raised in India yet, it is imperative to know that in the Indian context, the DPDP (Digital Personal Data Protection) Act 2023 governs personal data regulation. This includes rules for Data Fiduciaries (those who, alone or in partnership with others, determine the means and purpose of processing personal data), the Data Principal (those who give data), Consent Managers, and even rules regarding processing data of children. 

CyberPeace Recommendations:

At the level of the user, one can take steps to ensure limited collection of personal data by following the mentioned steps: 

• Review Privacy Settings- Reviewing Privacy settings for one’s online accounts and devices is a healthy practice to avoid giving unnecessary information to third-party applications.
• Private Browsing- Browsing through private mode or incognito is encouraged, as it prevents websites from tracking your activity and personal data.
• Using Ad-blockers- Certain websites have a user option to block ads when the user first visits their page. Availing of this prevents spam advertisements from the respective websites.
• Using VPN- Using Virtual Private Networks enables users to hide their IP address and their data to be encrypted, preventing third-party actors from tracking the users' online activities
• Other steps include clearing cookies and cache data and using the location-sharing feature with care.

Conclusion

Meta’s compliance with the EU’s DMA signals that social media platforms cannot circumnavigate their way around rules. Balancing the services provided while respecting user privacy is of the utmost importance. The EU has set precedence for a system that respects this and can be used as an example to help set guidelines for how other countries can continue to deal with similar issues and set standards accordingly.

References

• https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/meta-less-personalised-ads-eu-regulatory-demands-9667266/
• https://rainmaker.co.in/blog/view/the-price-of-personalization-how-targeted-advertising-breaches-data-privacy-and-challenges-the-gdprs-shield
• https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/magazine-features/fines-data-protection-violations/
• https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2023/09/01/the-landscape-of-personalized-advertising-efficiency-versus-privacy/
• https://iapp.org/news/a/pay-or-consent-personalized-ads-the-rules-and-whats-next
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-to-safeguard-privacy-in-the-era-of-personalised-ads/articleshow/102748711.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/facebook-instagram-users-in-europe-can-opt-for-less-personalised-ads-124111201558_1.html
• https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/about-dma_en

‍

Executive Summary

Following the flash floods that struck the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday morning, 289 bodies have so far been recovered, while around 1,500 people remain missing. A large number of foreign nationals, along with Nepali citizens, are also among those reported missing. Meanwhile, a video showing a massive landslide is being widely circulated on social media. The viral clip is actually a compilation of two separate videos. The first shows a landslide rapidly turning into a torrent of muddy floodwater, while the second shows a two-storey house on a riverbank being swept away by rising floodwaters. A research done by the Research Wing of the CyberPeace found that both videos are old and unrelated to Nepal. The first video is from Myanmar, while the second was recorded in the United States.

‍

Claim:

A user on social media platform Facebook shared the video, claiming that it shows the initial scenes of the devastating floods and landslides that struck Nepal.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1572666177989617 

‍

‍

Fact Check:

To verify the first video, we conducted a reverse image search of its keyframes. During the search, we found a longer version of the same footage, which was shared on an Instagram account on June 30. This confirmed that the viral clip is unrelated to the recent floods in Nepal.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaLtKtjzTtq/ 

‍

‍

During the research, we also found the full version of the video on a YouTube channel, where it was uploaded on January 28, 2024. Although the video caption did not clearly specify the location of the incident, it mentioned Myanmar several times. This confirms that the viral video is old footage from Myanmar and not related to the recent disaster in Nepal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z2_IEqOBNg&t=3s 

‍

‍

We found another report, published on January 25, 2024, that carried screenshots from the viral footage. It stated that the incident took place between January 24 and 25, 2024, in Myanmar’s Hpakant mining area. Further verification led us to a report published by EOS.org, the digital science news outlet of the American Geophysical Union. The report examined the incident by comparing Planet Labs satellite imagery captured before and after the event, providing further evidence about the location of the incident.

https://www.geoengineer.org/news/mine-waste-dam-failure-in-myanmar-caught-on-video

‍

‍

https://eos.org/thelandslideblog/myanmar-1 

‍

‍

Second Clip

For the second clip, a reverse image search of its keyframes led us to a CBC report dated June 14, 2022, which carried a photograph of the same two-storey house seen in the viral footage. The report identified the location as Gardiner, Montana, USA, where the Yellowstone River experienced severe flooding and a rapid rise in water levels. It also stated that the house belonged to Parker Manning, who recorded the footage himself while vacationing with his family at a spot roughly half a mile upstream from the house.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yellowstone-flooding-video-house-collapses-river/ 

‍

‍

We also found a post related to the viral video on FOX 61, where the footage was shared with a generic caption. The link to the post and a screenshot are provided below.

‍

‍

Conclusion

Our research found that both videos are old and unrelated to Nepal. The first video is from Myanmar, while the second is from the United States.

‍

Executive Summary:

False information spread on social media that Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, India’s first female Rafale pilot, had been captured by Pakistan during “Operation Sindoor”. The allegations are untrue and baseless as no credible or official confirmation supports the claim, and Singh is confirmed to be safe and actively serving. The rumor, likely originating from unverified sources, sparked public concern and underscored the serious threat fake news poses to national security. 

‍

Claim:

‍

An X user posted stating that “ Initial image released of a female Indian Shivani singh Rafale pilot shot down in Pakistan”. It was falsely claimed that Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh had been captured, and that the Rafale aircraft was shot down by Pakistan. 

‍

‍

Fact Check:

‍

After doing reverse image search, we found an instagram post stating the two Indian Air Force pilots—Wing Commander Tejpal (50) and trainee Bhoomika (28)—who had ejected from a Kiran Jet Trainer during a routine training sortie from Bengaluru before it crashed near Bhogapuram village in Karnataka. The aircraft exploded upon impact, but both pilots were later found alive, though injured and exhausted. 

‍

Also we found a youtube channel which is showing the video from the past and not what it was claimed to be. 

‍

‍

‍

Conclusion:

‍

The false claims about Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh being captured by Pakistan and her Rafale jet being shot down have been debunked. The image used was unrelated and showed IAF pilots from a separate training incident. Several media also confirmed that its video made no mention of Ms. Singh’s arrest. This highlights the dangers of misinformation, especially concerning national security. Verifying facts through credible sources and avoiding the spread of unverified content is essential to maintain public trust and protect the reputation of those serving in the armed forces.

• Claim: False claims about Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh being captured by Pakistan and her Rafale jet being shot down
• Claimed On:  Social Media
• Fact Check: False and Misleading

‍